BanglaPress Desk: Two 'Bir Muktijoddha' (heroic freedom fighters) from Pirojpur have alleged that Manik Pashari—the plaintiff in the case against Maulana Delawar Hossain Sayeedi—was a 'fake' freedom fighter. They claim that the then-Awami League government granted him the status of a freedom fighter as a reward for testifying against Sayeedi.
Following Manik Pashari’s death on October 24, a controversy arose regarding the provision of a 'guard of honour' (a state-accorded ceremonial tribute) and his subsequent burial. After the Jamaat-e-Islami party labeled him a 'fake' freedom fighter, these two heroic freedom fighters spoke out on the matter. Abdus Salam Baten, a heroic freedom fighter from Pirojpur, stated, "Manik Pashari was designated a freedom fighter as a reward for testifying against Maulana Delawar Hossain Sayeedi. Sayeedi was never a 'Razakar' (collaborator). In 1971, people did not even know who he was; he was not even in Pirojpur at the time. Sayeedi was an eloquent orator and an internationally renowned Islamic speaker." He added, "Because Manik Pashari was listed as a freedom fighter in the official government gazette, the police administration was compelled to accord him a guard of honour. The government at the time made him a freedom fighter as a reward for providing false testimony against Sayeedi. Supporters of Sayeedi attempted to intervene. We, too, know that he was a fake freedom fighter." Another heroic freedom fighter, Mirza Zahirul Haque, remarked, "During the tenure of the Awami League government, a case was filed against Delawar Hossain Sayeedi. Whether under duress or otherwise, Manik Pashari provided false testimony against him. Subsequently, he was designated a freedom fighter, and no further verification or scrutiny took place." He further explained, "Following his death, he was entitled to a guard of honour under government regulations, as he remained a gazetted freedom fighter. However, members of Jamaat-e-Islami obstructed the proceedings." Manik Pashari, aged 87, passed away on the morning of October 24 at the home of his son-in-law in Tungipara, Gopalganj. His body was brought to the Pirojpur Sadar Upazila Parishad complex that afternoon. Amidst complications surrounding the guard of honour and the burial, he was eventually accorded a state-sanctioned guard of honour at the Police Lines later that afternoon. The body was taken to his home around 1:00 AM, and the burial was completed at approximately 1:20 AM.
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